Dr. Mansi Raghuwanshi, a medical intern training at GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Sola, Ahmedabad, is already working on the frontlines of a high-pressure government healthcare system as she nears the completion of her medical education. Managing long shifts, assisting in procedures, and caring for patients in emotionally intense situations, she represents a growing cohort of young doctors shouldering increasing responsibility early in their careers.
As India’s healthcare system grapples with staff shortages, long working hours, and rising patient loads, interns like Mansi play a critical role in keeping public hospitals running.
In conversation with MedBound Times, Mansi Raghuwanshi candidly describes life as a medical intern working on the frontlines of a busy government hospital.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us where you are currently doing your internship?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: Hello, I am Mansi Raghuwanshi, an intern doctor at Sola Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. It is a 900-bedded government-aided hospital with multiple critical care facilities, including the Pediatric ICU, Surgical ICU, and ICCU. The hospital is located in the heart of Ahmedabad, so there is always a heavy patient load and constant activity.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: What inspired you to pursue medicine as a career?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: I always wanted to become a doctor. Since second grade, I was very clear about it. I did get distracted in ninth or tenth grade because of peer pressure, but once I actually started working in the field, I realized I had chosen the right profession. Society needs people who are empathetic but also strong and resilient, and I believe medicine allows me to be both.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: As you near graduation, how would you describe this phase of your journey?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: Internship has been extremely satisfying. I am definitely overworked, but even after a 12-hour duty, I never feel tired mentally. There is constant skill learning, spontaneous decision-making, and prompt action, especially in a government setup where resources are limited. It has been challenging, but also very fulfilling.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: Can you share an incident that made you feel especially satisfied as a doctor?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: Labor ward duties are always very fulfilling. Women come in severe pain, often at odd hours like 3 am, and then leave with one or two healthy babies. Their families are overjoyed. They bless us and often bring sweets, sometimes kilos of laddoos, just to thank us. That happiness makes everything worth it.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: How does MBBS theory differ from real-life clinical practice during internship?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: Theory is very long. We spend about four and a half years studying theory, which can feel boring and unproductive at times. But now, during internship, even the smallest details I studied earlier make sense when I see real patients. During theory years, I felt like I was in school, not college, and I had serious imposter syndrome because I lacked skills. Internship finally makes you feel like a real doctor. The hospital teaches you everything.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: What gap between medical education and hospital work became clear to you this year?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: In medical education, we are taught the same things repeatedly. In the hospital, we are taught once and expected to do it independently the next time. There is constant pressure because lives are involved. You can fail an exam, but you cannot afford to make mistakes in a hospital. Clinical postings from the second year help bridge this gap gradually.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: What has surprised you the most about working in a hospital setting?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: The workload and emotional toll are immense. Doctors are expected to give 100 percent every day. Even taking a sick leave makes me feel guilty. In government hospitals, senior residents work continuous 36 to 40-hour shifts. Another shock was seeing harsh social realities like child marriage, gender bias, domestic violence, and brutal road accident cases. It gives you a serious reality check.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: Has medicine stopped feeling like exams and started feeling personal for you?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: Yes, very quickly. Within a week, I felt personally responsible for my patients. When patients remember me, ask how I am, or bless me, it becomes deeply personal. That gratitude gives me the energy to show up better every day.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: Do you feel confident about your future as a doctor?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: I feel confident, but also confused. Choosing a specialty feels overwhelming because it is a lifelong decision. There is saturation in the medical field, and private hospitals are becoming corporate setups with target-based practices. Sometimes I even think about doing an MBA, but I know I will stay in clinical medicine.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: Which specialties are you currently gravitating towards?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: I am inclined towards something surgical, like general surgery or gynecology, though the workload is intense. Dermatology and ophthalmology are my second options. I have narrowed it down to four choices for now.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: Do you think MBBS doctors have a future in India without post-graduation?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: It depends on what kind of life you want. In big cities, MD or MS has become essential. Even then, hospitals prefer super-specialists. Society itself has shifted towards specialists. MBBS doctors still have a role in rural healthcare as medical officers, but overall, the future feels insecure due to lack of policies and safety.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: What is your take on NEET PG, seat availability, and reservation?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: Seats should absolutely increase, especially in government colleges. Private and deemed colleges have extremely high fees, almost like an auction. Reservation after MBBS deeply hurts morale. Undergraduate reservation is understandable, but after becoming a doctor, merit should matter. Many doctors end up taking gap years because of this.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: Have you considered a career abroad?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: I have family in the UK, and my aunt works in the NHS where doctors have capped working hours and better facilities. Doctors there receive basic rights like safety, hygiene, food facilities, and pensions. Despite that, I do not want to leave India. I just hope my country becomes worthy of its doctors.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: Where do you see yourself in a few years?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: I hope to be stable enough to take time off when needed and skilled enough to provide the best care. I want the authority to take care of both patients and doctors, because both deserve equal attention and facilities. Above all, I want to remain empathetic.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: How is your mental health coping with the realities of medicine?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: It is a rollercoaster. Some days are extremely rewarding, while others leave me crying in corridors after losing patients. Friends, family, seniors, and colleagues help a lot. We see very traumatic cases, especially road accidents, and it affects how we see the world. Doctors really need psychological support.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: Do you think Indian doctors need structured mental health support?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: Absolutely. In some countries, hospitals have social workers and psychologists for doctors. In India, doctors are not given time or space to reflect on their mental health. Burnout comes very early. Even young doctors in their mid-twenties feel exhausted, though they continue showing up every day.
Arushi Roy Chowdhury: What advice would you give to students in the early years of MBBS?
Mansi Raghuwanshi: Study sincerely and make it personal. This profession is not just about exams, it is about people. You cannot skip chapters because every detail matters in real life. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Exams are tough and comparisons with other professions can be heartbreaking, but do not let it break you. You are doing meaningful work, and you must keep going.
As Mansi Raghuwanshi prepares to step out of medical school and into the next phase of her career, her internship experience captures the in-between space many young doctors occupy. It is a phase marked by long nights, small victories, emotional exhaustion, and moments of quiet fulfilment that rarely make headlines.